PLANS for a new "blue and white" community and sports centre at Ewood Park have been unveiled by Blackburn Rovers Community Trust.

The designs have been drawn up to redevelop and extend the existing Blackburn Rovers Indoor Centre at the ground by North West design and project management practice Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP).

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New features will include a floodlit artificial grass pitch and a community hall and sport education site.

FWP has designed the building with a dual function in mind to host both the trust’s sporting events and also provide the area with a community centre.

Gary Robinson, CEO of Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, said he is excited about development which will show the club’s continuous commitment to the community.

He said: “Our aim is to replace the existing buildings with a modern and inviting centre that offers top sports facilities for people living in the local area."

“The new centre will also act as a much-needed focal point for the community and have a real positive impact on the area.

“We are very much a community club and this project shows our commitment to remaining at the heart of the area, not just on match days.”

Rovers’ historic half-blue, half-white kit has influenced the design of the building which will be built using blue and grey bricks in one half and white cladding and glass on the other.

The centre, which has planning permission from Blackburn with Darwen Council, will also include new changing rooms, offices for BRIC, and an entrance lobby and waiting area, as well as remodelled parking set-ups arrangements.

The front of the existing building will be demolished and the rest, which is home to three indoor pitches, will be refurbished.

Seb Salisbury, architect at FWP, said: “The existing building is made of up two sections from different dates, including a former warehouse, which although functional lacks has little architectural merit.

“We are looking to replace and repurpose to deliver a building that reflects both the intentions and ambitions of the club’s very active community trust.

“The designs we are propose would not only provide striking, modern new facilities for the BRIC, but also give local people of all ages a vibrant new community centre to be proud of.”